£50m-rated Defender Favours Liverpool Over Man City

Southampton centre-back Virgil van Dijk favours a move to Liverpool over Manchester City this summer, according to a report from the BBC.

The 25-year-old Dutch international is hot property this summer following an excellent two-year spell on the south coast having joined from Celtic.

However, van Dijk did miss the final five months of this past season with an ankle injury, which included the EFL Cup final defeat to Manchester United.

Liverpool had been strongly linked with a move for the £50 million-rated defender during the winter transfer window but nothing materialised.  Earlier this summer Manchester City became the favourites to land the Southampton star with Pep Guardiola keen to bring in some defensive reinforcements.

However, it appears the Reds are now leading the battle to sign van Dijk with the BBC reporting this evening that the player would prefer a move to Anfield.  Chelsea have also been linked with a move.  The article goes on to say that the Saints will demand a fee in excess of £50 million – which make the player the most expensive defender in the world.

Liverpool’s defence has looked vulnerable under Jürgen Klopp, which included James Milner playing at left-back this past season, but Virgil van Dijk would be an excellent acquisition towards fixing these issues.

Klopp’s side shipped 42 goals in the Premier League this past season – 13 more than Manchester United who finished two places below them.

Virgil van Dijk reads the game excellently in defence, has great positional sense, is good in the air, comfortable on the ball and is quick for a player in his position.

Southampton have been somewhat of a feeder club to Liverpool over the past few seasons, with Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert, Dejan Lovren, Nathaniel Clyne and Sadio Mané all moving from St Mary’s up to the English football giants.

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James Crawford

Promoted to editor in 2016, James has met famous footballing faces from Robbie Savage to John Bones. Very passionate football fan and writer and has a degree in journalism,

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